MOBILE, Alabama -- When the Rev. Bobby Rimes was informed in 2010 that the Center for Campus Ministry at Spring Hill College had been named in his honor, he called it a lovely tribute.

On Wednesday, after the 89-year-old Rimes died following a brief illness, others who knew the Spring Hill teacher and mentor were offering their own tributes to Rimes dedication as a longtime member of the Jesuit community.

"Father Bobby Rimes embodied the values and ideals of a Jesuit education," said Thomas A. Byrne, an alumnus and former member of the colleges board of trustees. Byrnes personal gift led to the naming of the Rev. Bobby Rimes, S.J., Center for Campus Ministry.

"Bobby Rimes inspired and helped so many over the years," the Rev. Richard P. Salmi, Spring Hills president, said Wednesday. "We are grateful that Tom chose to honor and recognize Bobby through his generous gift in 2010."

Funeral arrangements for Rimes are pending.

"Remembering how important he was to me and to countless students like me over the years, the opportunity to name the campus ministry center for him seemed a perfect fit," Byrne said in 2010 after the campus ministry was named after his former mentor.

Instead of a formal naming ceremony on campus, Byrne surprised his former professor with the news at his residence. He was really humble and touched, Byrne said at the time.

"If you took a poll of Spring Hill alums, a vast majority would name Bobby Rimes best professor," Byrne said in 2010 after informing Rimes of the honor.

A native of Monroe, La., Rimes enrolled as a Spring Hill undergraduate in 1939 and was ordained at Spring Hills St. Joseph Chapel in 1955.

Though retired, he remained active as a spiritual director and mentor at the Jesuit school.

An avid baseball player, he also served on Spring Hills football team. He often joked that Spring Hill football has been undefeated since 1942 when he played on the team. The school dropped football after that year.

Rimes entered the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) in 1942. He studied philosophy at Spring Hill and theology at St. Marys College in Kansas. From 1957 to 1965, he served as assistant master of novices at Grand Coteau, La., and then as master of novices from 1965 until 1975.

He returned to Spring Hill in 1977, and served as rector of the Jesuit community and director of Jesuit tertians. As a professor of theology, Rimes taught courses in Jesuit spirituality and the New Testament.

After his official retirement, he continued to reside in the Jesuit community at the college.

Rimes said in a 2010 interview that he was never too busy to help students.